Bishop Earl Fernandes brought a message of hope to the incarcerated at three correctional institutions in the diocese during the final weeks of the Jubilee Year of Hope.
The bishop visited Marion Correctional Institution on Friday, Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Madison and London Correctional Institutions on Sunday, Dec. 14, a day designated as the Jubilee of Prisoners, to celebrate Mass, hear confessions and talk with the men at each location.
He was joined by Father Daniel Colby, the chaplain in Marion, and Deacon Zack Goodchild, a seminarian who will be ordained to the priesthood in May.
About three dozen men attended the Mass in the chapel.
Bishop Fernandes had requested that parishes in the diocese observe the Jubilee of Prisoners on Dec. 14 and pray for the incarcerated. He also asked the inmates to pray for those around the world who are persecuted for their faith and are unjustly imprisoned.
“You will never know the true power of your prayers,” Bishop Fernandes told the men. “You can do a lot of good through your prayers.
“I’m so grateful for all of you. I tell you, I feel most like a priest when I’m with all of you.”
Father Colby, the parochial vicar at Marion St. Mary and Cardington Sacred Hearts churches, returned two days later on Dec. 14 for the Jubilee of Prisoners to lead a Holy Hour and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The following day, Dec. 15, the men were visited by missionaries from the Damascus Catholic Mission Campus located in Knox County.
“Thank you for just being you, for being disciples and trying to be faithful,” Bishop Fernandes said. “This year, the theme of the Jubilee has been a pilgrimage of hope. And I’m hopeful for you. You give me hope that we’re on the journey together toward the Father’s house.”
Ross, a server at Mass, said he was baptized by Bishop Fernandes on May 24. “I’ve been incarcerated for 19 years and having spiritual nourishment is a blessing in itself,” he said.
George Prifti called Bishop Fernandes’ visit an “absolute blessing.”
“When the bishop comes in, you just feel the presence of the Catholic Church,” he said.
He added that having access to the sacraments is “very important.”
Two days later, approximately 18 men attended Sunday Mass with Bishop Fernandes celebrating at Madison Correctional. He was joined by Father Matt Morris, a chaplain there, and assisted by Deacon Mark O’Loughlin.
Seth Cummins, who held the bishop’s crozier during Mass at Madison Correctional, said he was thrilled to be in the presence of the bishop.
“I’ve never felt so in touch with my spirituality since coming to the Catholic Church,” said Cummins, who is scheduled to be confirmed and enter into full communion with the Church at Easter.
Mickey Murrill, a convert to the Catholic faith, received instructions while incarcerated at Madison Correctional and came into the Church at Easter 2023.
“God’s been shining His light on me, and I’ve been trying to be as active in the Church as I can,” he said.
The bishop celebrated another Mass at nearby London Correctional the same day for about 27 individuals.
Among them was Alec Zurlinden of Cincinnati, who attends Mass, including Spanish language, as often as it is offered at London Correctional.
“Growing up Catholic and attending religion classes, a lot of what I did early on was just repetition and doing what my parents did without fully understanding why,” he said. “But it wasn’t until my arrest and incarceration a year and a half ago, and after doing a lot of soul searching as well as research about the Catholic faith, that I made it my own.”
Taz Collins converted to the Catholic faith at age 18 (he’s 30 now). He learned about the Catholic Church on his own and felt that was where he belonged.
“Having Bishop Fernandes come here to celebrate the Mass is an incredible thing,” he said. “I think it’s really a blessing that he comes and does this for all incarcerated people.”